Kenyan President William Ruto has arrived in Port-au-Prince, Haiti to assess a Kenya-led security mission in the country, following a warning from a United Nations expert about deepening violence and insecurity. The Kenyan leader plans to visit the Kenyan contingent working alongside Haitian counterparts and meet with Haitian officials, including the transitional presidential council.
Haiti has been plagued by years of violence due to armed groups vying for control, leading to widespread displacement of over 578,000 people. Despite the presence of foreign police officers, armed groups still control a significant portion of the capital, Port-au-Prince. The UN-backed Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) in Haiti has faced challenges, with less than a quarter of the planned force deployed.
UN expert William O’Neill highlighted the dire humanitarian crisis in Haiti, urging for urgent actions to address the situation. The mission’s mandate is set to expire soon, leading to uncertainties about what comes next. The United States, a key supporter of the mission, is working to secure additional support to bolster the force and address Haiti’s security, economic, and humanitarian needs.
While some Haitians remain wary of UN interventions due to past negative experiences, civil society groups have called for assistance to address the violence. They emphasize the need for systemic changes in addition to security deployments, while also advocating for safeguards against possible abuses by international police forces. The US is exploring the possibility of transitioning the mission into a UN peacekeeping operation, with the goal of ensuring long-term support for Haiti and paving the way for free and fair elections.
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